Nice forum fellows/ladies:
Never been to the CF before and I want to make a trip to the CF and need to know which ramp to use, I have a cat daddy jet boat than can go in 3 inches of water upstream. I also do not want my truck to get broken into if you know what I mean.
I will keep tract of the CFS on TVA web site any suggestions when the best flow would be for a jet boat fish ride. I have found on other tailwaters 1 turbine flow is perfect.
We will be fishing flies but an not to proud to take my spinning rod.
Top things to remember with a jet boat is:
Keep it lightweight and balanced well. Have a pretty wide bottom and forget the 4 strokes ( too heavy), go with a two stoke. I have a 1650 XPRESS with Tunnel and a 40 Hp tiller 2 stroke Merc manual start that produces 28 hp at the nozzel. Not weighted down with a battery. GPS at 28 MPH with my 65 pound lab on the front bow and my 260 lbs steering. I also have driftboat oars mounted on it and a custom river anchor that drops off the front with a crank by the back seat so I do not have to get up and risk life and limb pulling it up in the front of the boat in fast water. I also have my gas tank in the storage bin in the bow of the boat. If you want the best advise possible go to
www.outboardjets.com as this place makes all the jets components that all outboards use I believe. Go by their advise and you can not go wrong. Also I was very pleased with the setup that Reynolds Racing and Marine out of Harriman did with my baby. That is also who I bought it from.
Dont worry about dents on the bottom of the boat as IT WILL HAPPEN and a well built boat like the XPRESS can take some hits. Just be prepared to have a good welder before the first hole. I have not put a hole in mine YET but have found a great guy who knows Al out of Etowah.
My Merc starts on one pull and I was concerned about that as I did not want to drift into a downed tree and drown if my motor did not start.
Keep all the BS that adds weight out of the boat and balance it well with a big enough motor to get you up on plane and out of dodge before you drift to the next shallow shoal.
I hear that it the CF not as rocky as the Hiwassee. Is that the case?
Look forward to hearing from you folks on the Plateau who know it like the back of your hand. Who is the best guide in your neck of the woods. Don't need anybody flashy/preppy just someone who loves to fish and knows what he or she is doing. Hopefully some skinny dude who wont add weight to my boat HA.
Tight Lines.
RF1
